The Atlantic writer seemed surprised that Midland ranked so high, but anyone who knows someone in oil’n’gas won’t be so surprised. The study gauges personal income per capita, which averages at $65,000 in Midland, called a “small city” with “big wages” all because of the “natural resources and globally-determined price of energy.” For comparison, the median household income sits at about $30,000. (Dallasites who are $30,000 millionaires, take note.)

A city with just over 100,000 people, many more oil and gas professionals come to Midland for work in the Permian Basin. It’s tough to get a hotel room, in fact. If we wanted to snag one for tonight, for instance, at least a half-dozen hotels in Midland are charging more than $200 for one night. Business is booming.

Ah, Midland: the West Texas land of opportunity. Couldn’t pay me to move there.